Riverside, CA – December 2, 2024: California’s Secretary of Labor & Workforce Development, Stewart Knox, met with near 20 manufacturers, non-profit leaders, policy experts, and other stakeholders from the manufacturing and logistics industries from Riverside and San Bernardino Counties at the offices of the Inland Empire Community Foundation in Riverside on Monday. The meeting was organized and facilitated by the Inland Empire Growth & Opportunity (IEGO).  

A rare occurrence for Inland Southern California, this meeting was the first time in at least a decade such a visit has occurred from a member of the Cabinet of the Governor, and it the first time since Secretary Stewart Knox took office as California’s Labor Secretary in 2022. Kaina Pereira, Executive Director of the California Workforce Development Board as well as representatives from the Offices of the Governor were also in attendance. 

After opening remarks from Christy Tran, Industry Engagement Manager at IEGO, and Matthew Mena, Executive Director of IEGO, the Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire (MCIE) President, Wallace Brithinee, and Director of Development & Strategic Partnerships, Sandra Sisco, introduced the work of the MCIE for the state representatives as well as the industry landscape of the region. Within the 27,000 square mile San Bernardino/Riverside County region, there are approximately 3,800 manufacturers, many of them small-to-medium, family-owned enterprises. Sisco spoke of the MCIE as the “strong, unified voice” of Inland manufacturers large and small, seeking to find ways for our region’s makers to “not just survive, but thrive.” 

Of the MCIE and its 25 -year record, Kaina Pereira said, “I don’t know if there are many others in the state that can even consider that they have been involved for that long, and your willingness to partner…has been really powerful in here.” Pereira continued, “The first line in our charter is industry-based engagement…I want to bring people to the table to really inform policy.” 

After Tom Kavanaugh and Nick Schultz from JobWorks discussed a Business Engagement Survey to support policy directives in Sacramento, Secretary Knox and Executive Director Pereira both presented on their plans for reforming vocational education in the state, including a new dual enrollment program to be piloted in Inland Southern California. 

Representatives from regional manufacturers and Board Members and Staff of the MCIE spoke on a variety of business issues facing regional manufacturers and logistics providers. Eric Schmidt of Exquadrum, Steve Tyrell of Mitsubishi Cement, Angel Sanchez of Phenix Technologies, and Patrick Merrick of Tolar Manufacturing, each spoke on issues impacting the industry in the region from workforce development and training to high energy costs and costs of doing business that hamper hiring capabilities.  

MCIE’s subject matter expert on renewable energy in the Commercial and Industrial space, John P. Beall, gave additional commentary on bottlenecks in the interconnection process negatively impacting access to renewables in a region with high solar intensity matched with high volatility of power prices that negatively impacts local businesses. Marek Gootman, Senior Fellow of Brookings Metro, the urban policy arm of the Brookings Institution think tank, spoke up on insurance producing additional headwinds in the region’s development of renewable energy infrastructure on warehouses and industrial buildings. 

The Manufacturers’ Council (MCIE) represents manufacturers in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Their efforts include promoting workforce development programs and policies for the region, as well as educating the public on the modern face of manufacturing in the region as well as the skilled trade opportunities available in it that offer rewarding, high-wage careers.  

The MCIE’s membership is comprised of professionals, students, community members, and corporate leadership with interests in manufacturing in Inland Southern California.  

The Manufacturers’ Council of the Inland Empire (MCIE) supports education and career training on behalf of manufacturers throughout the region, offering programming and expertise in a variety of topics including innovative workforce solutions. Visit http://www.mfgcouncilie.com or our Linktree at linktr.ee/iemanufacturing for more information on careers, events, and membership.